Günter Netzer

Günter Netzer was one of the biggest stars in German football in the early 70s in his teamside Borussia Mönchengladbach as well as in the German National team. Netzer was the ideal playmaker with long, smooth passes while creating spaces for his team mates.

Magnus Brink
tyskfotboll@hotmail.com

Günter Netzer grew up in Mönchengladbach and began early to play in the street with the older boys. The younger Netzer had to face the unthankful post as goalkeeper but would soon advance to field player. Through the play in the street he came to his first club 1. FC Mönchengladbach at the age of 9, where he quickly became the leading goal scorer. In his teens Netzer was called up to different teams for football talents. He went to Duisburg on the weekends to get special training. He was often told about his weakness and that he had to be more hard. His technique seems to be without remarks from his trainers. At this time Netzer for the first time heard about the great Wolfgang Overath from 1. FC Köln (Cologne). Their ways would pass each other a number of times later in their careers. However Netzer himself wasn't sure on his future being a footballer. There wasn't a Bundesliga full of money at this time and at best the players were semi-professionals. Netzer held on to his place as a trainee at Mannesmann.

When Netzer turned 19 the big clubs started to be interested in the talented midfielder. Netzer was now part of the West German national youth team which at this time had loads of up-coming stars. Netzer was originally set to join Fortuna Düsseldorf and had know idea of joining his home side Borussia Mönchengladbach. Fortuna missed out on signing Netzer since their president didn't show up to the meeting with Netzer and his father. In 1963 Netzer made his debut for Borussia after their final awakening signing the home son. Borussia still played in the West German 2. Division but hade high aims in reaching the Bundesliga. Netzer became the key to success together with the coach Hennes Weisweiler. Borussia went from being a tough playing team to a team full of young talents and a offensive play - die Fohlen. Netzer scored goal after goal and made the decisive goal which secured the advance to the Bundesliga in 1965.

Netzer got his first cap with West Germany already in 1965 but failed to take a place in the team. On the opposite to Beckenbauer and Overath (which hade the same role) Netzer wasn't picked out for the squad to the World Cup in England in 1966. At the same time Netzer was becoming better all the time in Mönchengladbach but only given a few caps. In 1968 Netzer for the first time was playing more regulary for West Germany only to be left outside the team throughout 1969. Netzer didn't feel at home in the national team and an argument with coach Schön led to Netzer boycotting the team. Just before the World Cup in 1970 Netzer was talked over to come back. Netzer was unlucky as he just before the tournament started became injured and choosed not to go. Netzer felt there was no idea sitting on the bench half-injured. Netzer still went to Mexico as a part of the Bild-Zeitung's team.

Netzer as an icon
Netzer has more than any other footballer in Germany turned into an icon. During his career Netzer became as famous for his private living as for his role as footballer. Netzer was a sensation in the late 60s as he let his hair grow. He had since his childhood been a car fanatic and drove a Ferrari which wasnt anything usual in the late 1960's West Germany. He was in many ways the new footballer and a break with the old type of footballer. Netzer created a well-known disco in Mönchengladbach - "Lovers Lane". As Netzer puts it, he had to find ways to make the money that Borussia wasn't able to pay him looking at what his national team mates earned in Bayern Munich. Netzer was part of the West German celebrity world and keen on what was "in" and "out" - Netzer became much more that just a gifted footballer. Until this day Netzer has kept his name as the number 10 and the one that showed what football could be.

European champions 1972
Netzer had been the key in Borussia's team created by Weisweiler. Netzer was team captain and playmaker in the team which thanks to immense offensive established itself in the top of the Bundesliga. Weisweiler and Netzer often had a bad relation but together they made wonders. Borussia was at this time a team full of stars like Wimmer, Vogts and Heynckes to mentiond the most well-known at the side of Netzer. In 1970 Mönchengladbach became German Champions for the first time ever and during the following seasion the title was defended. Netzer was at the hight of his career and many saw him even better than Beckenbauer. In 1972 and 1973 Netzer was selected as German footballer of year in front of Beckenbauer. In 1971-1972 the two were the backbone of the legendary West German Team that many hold as the best ever.

Netzer had been the key in Borussia's team created by Weisweiler. Netzer was team captain and playmaker in the team which thanks to immense offensive established itself in the top of the Bundesliga. Weisweiler and Netzer often had a bad relation but together they made wonders. Borussia was at this time a team full of stars like Wimmer, Vogts and Heynckes to mentiond the most well-known at the side of Netzer. In 1970 Mönchengladbach became German Champions for the first time ever and during the following seasion the title was defended. Netzer was at the hight of his career and many saw him even better than Beckenbauer. In 1972 and 1973 Netzer was selected as German footballer of year in front of Beckenbauer. In 1971-1972 the two were the backbone of the legendary West German Team that many hold as the best ever.

The European Championship in 1972 was to be Netzer's biggest moment with the National tema as he was one of the key players. Netzer was finally given the recognition as playmaker by coach Schön. The greatest game was against England when West Germany took a historic victory at Wembley (3-1). Netzer was magnificent in the midfield making one of the German goals. The triumph then came after a 3-0 win against the USSR. After the European Championship Netzer was caped less but was in the squad at the World Cup in 1974. Netzer only played 20 minutes as a substitute against the GDR and Netzer doesn't count himself as a World Cup winner. It is very unusually that a German international goes from being a celebrated star in one tournament to being put on the bench in the next.

Netzer scores the victory goal in the Cup final
In 1973 Netzer had played 10 years for Borussia and on the long way from the Germany second division to being one of Europe's strongest club sides. Netzer was looking for new challenges and not to mention better salary which Netzer never have tried to hide. The transfer was becoming a fact and in 1973 the transfer to Real Madrid was officially announced. The last game for Borussia would become one of Netzer's most memorable. The 1973 Final in the German Cup (DFB-Pokal) is one of the greatest in the history of the tournament and was between two of great sides at the time: Borussia Mönchengladbach and FC Köln. Surprisingly enough coach Weisweiler put Netzer on the bench as a substitute - it was cleat that Weisweiler was disappointed on Netzer deciding to leave. The final had from the beginning speed from both teams but after one goal from each team none of them could decide the game in the Rheinstadion in Düsseldorf. Extra time followed and now the fans started to shout Netzer's name but a substitution was nowhere in sight. Netzer started to warm up but no sign was given from Weisweiler. Netzer then substituted himself with Kulik. Netzer had merely touched the ball as he scored the winning goal! Netzer's goal is perhaps the most classical goal of all in German Cup history. What a gift to the Borussia fans that now saw their greatest player leave.

The critized transfer to Real Madrid
Netzer had to face much critizism in West Germany for his transfer. A transfer wasn't as usually at this time as it is today and certainly not concearning players as Netzer going abroad. That a star like Netzer would leave West Germany hadn't happened since the introduction of the Bundesliga in 1963. Words like "Landesverräter" was common which today feels strange seeing that many today hope to see a German in one the Europe's great sides. At first it was a great change and much pressure was on Netzer since he was one of Real Madrid most expensive players. The first season was a disappointment but in 1975 Madrid and Netzer but it all together winning the Spanish league. In the same year Netzer made his last apperances in the National Team. Netzer wasn't the only German in Real since Paul Breitner had joined in the autumn of 1974. Netzer was often a guest at the Breitners. Netzer's time in Spain was a period of great changes for the country taking it first steps to democracy. In 1976 Netzer left Real Madrid and instead played for the Swiss side Grasshoppers. One of his last things he did in Madrid was recommending Uli Stielike. Stielike is the best German of them all in Real Madrid. His move to Grasshoppers was surely not for reasons concering new challenges. Netzer has nevertheless pointed out that the Swiss league wasn't as bad as was often said at that he had to stay in shape. But Netzer was being more and more tired after the matches and in 1978 he announced his retirement. The last matches for Grasshoppers ment friendly games with Netzer as the star giving the club incomes.

Successful manager and commentator
In 1978 Netzer became Manager for Hamburger SV and was one of the people creating the club's biggest successes with the crown beeing the European Cup in 1983. Netzer signed players like Ditmar Jakobs, Horst Hrubesch and Jimmy Hartwig. Another triumph for Netzer was the signing of Austran coach Ernst Happel. The most headlines came when Netzer presented legend Franz Beckenbauer as HSV's new signing.

In 1986 Netzer left Hamburg and started a new life in Switzerland. Netzer started working with a marketing company that sold the legal rights to football games and big tournaments. In a market that was becoming bigger for every year Netzer enjoyed success. Netzer is still a partner in the company and owns a minority of the rights for the 2006 World Cup. In later years Netzer has come back to the big screen as commentator on German TV ARD. Netzer started commentating of Swiss television but was signed by ARD for the World Cup in 1998. Netzer always works together with Gerhard Delling and together they were awarded a German TV prize. Netzer has gained recognition for his honesty and analysis.

Facts

DOB: 14th September 1944 in Mönchengladbach, Germany

Caps: 37 (1965-1975)
Goals: 6
First Cap: 9th October 1965 against Austria (4 - 1)
Last Cap: 3rd September 1975 against Austria (2 - 0)

Other international games:
1 B (1965, Netherlands)
2 U23

Caps Goals
1965 2 0
1966 2 0
1967 2 0
1968 7 0
1970 3 1
1971 8 3
1972 7 2
1973 1 0
1974 3 0
1975 2 0
Total 37 6

World Cup

Participation: 1974
Games: 1
Goals: 1

World Cup winner 1974

European Championship

Participation: 1972
Games: 4¹
Goals: 1¹

European Champion 1972

¹ Includes Quarterfinal stage

Clubs

Grasshoppers Zürich, Switzerland (1976-1978)
Real Madrid CF, Spain (1973-1976)
VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach (1963-1973)
1. FC Mönchengladbach (1953-1963) http://www.1fcmg.de

Honours

German championship (2) 1970, 1971
German Cup (1) 1973
German Footballer of the Year (Fußballer des Jahres) (2) 1972, 1973
Spanish championship (2) 1975, 1976
Spanish Cup (2) 1974, 1975

35 matches in the European Cups/9 goals
Runner-up UEFA Cup 1973
Third place in the Bundesliga 1968, 1969, 1972

230 matches in the Bundesliga (1965-1973)
82 goals in the Bundesliga

Manager career

Hamburger SV (1978-1986)

German Championship (3) 1979, 1982, 1983
European Champions Cup (1) 1983

Runner-up European Champions Cup 1980
Runner-up UEFA Cup 1982